Book Image

Instant Getting Started with VMware Fusion

By : Michael Roy
Book Image

Instant Getting Started with VMware Fusion

By: Michael Roy

Overview of this book

Running Windows on your Mac can seem complicated, but this book will make things easy by showing you how to get the most out of VMware Fusion. Having a virtual copy of Windows on your Mac can let you make a secure backup of your files and run Windows applications, which makes your computer more versatile. This book will show you how to start running Windows on your Mac, with practical examples of how to keep your Virtual Machine secure, backed up, and running smoothly. You will learn about the new features of VMware Fusion 6 and where to get help and support for the software when you need it. This book will walk you through what you need to know to safely and securely run Windows on your Mac. It then proceeds to show you how to upgrade to Windows 8, and shows you how you can seamlessly switch between Windows 7 and Windows 8 using snapshots. Next, it covers all that you need to know to safely and securely run Windows on a Mac computer with Intel processors. You will also learn how to manage your Virtual Machine backups and keep your VM safe. The recipes in this book will give you a helpful head start in getting the most out of VMware Fusion 6.
Table of Contents (8 chapters)

Summary


Using VMware Fusion is pretty awesome once you get the hang of it. It has a lot of fantastic features that work great in different situations, but it's not always obvious when to use which setting or why. I hope this book has been able to give you a better understanding of when to use the different options available to you, and ultimately leads you to becoming a VMware Fusion power user!

Let's recap some of the points covered in this book to make sure they stick:

  • Performance:

    • Give Windows no more CPU and RAM than it needs, but no less either. If you're unsure, just split it down the middle. The idea is to leave enough for the Mac to run the computer and enough for Windows to run Windows.

    • Don't take too many snapshots. More than two or three will seriously degrade performance, especially on computers without solid state drives (SSDs).

    • Disable AutoProtect unless you know you need it, for example, if you are the type that always break things and need a constant roll back point, and can live with the performance penalty (you know who you are!). If you have a modern Mac with an SSD, it's not that noticeable a performance hit. If you have an older one with a standard hard drive, you should avoid this feature.

  • Security:

    • Encrypt your VM for maximum security from anyone who could get physical access to your system, but don't lose that password!

    • Keep a backup of Your VM separate from Your Data.

    • Use Shared and Mirrored Folders, and Time Machine to keep Your Data safe.

    • Keep a copy of Your VM on an external drive just in case. (When it boots, tell it that you moved it, so it doesn't change the MAC address and Windows doesn't know that it's been copied).

  • Productivity:

    • Keep Windows 7 and Windows 8 on the same VM using a snapshot. Remember not to have too many, but this is great if you need to go back to something in Windows 7 that isn't compatible with Windows 8.

    • Remember to use only one printing method at a time.

    • Connect a FaceTime camera to Windows to use it there.

    • If you have to, connect a USB keyboard and mouse directly to Fusion. This is really only necessary if you want to dedicate a Windows keyboard to Windows only.

    • Remember to call VMware's excellent support folks to get help when you need it. One of the benefits of paying for Fusion is that it comes with free e-mail support! If you need an extra hand, you can pay a small fee and they can give you a call to talk in person, and even remote-control your Mac to show you exactly what needs to be done to solve even the most complex of problems.